Odontological and osteological investigations on propalaeotheriids (Mammalia, Equidae) from the Eocene Geiseltal Fossillagerstätte (Central Germany) - a full range of extraordinary phenomena

Hellmund, Meinolf

doi:10.1127/0077-7749/2013/0300

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Smith 15 suggested that the dental pattern where the eruption of all three molars occurs before the replacement of any teeth is considered primitive as it occurred in early mammals, which were small and rapidly growing. We include in Table 1 the study of Hellmund 28 who described the cheek teeth eruption sequence of the Middle Eocene palaeothere Propalaeotherium hassiacum from Geiseltal (Germany). Palaeotheres are a primitive group of perissodactyls that was once considered as true equids but that are currently recognized as belonging to the family Palaeotheriidae that, together with the Equidae, is included in the superfamily Equoidea 3 , 48 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…H. coelophyes Lamagou Fauna of Fugu (China) Late Miocene m1, m2, p2, p3, (p4, m3) Hypsodont Hipparionini (Equinae) Not reported 29 Hipparion sp. Batallones-10 (Spain) Late Miocene m1, m2, (p2, p3), p4, m 3 Hypsodont Hipparionini (Equinae) Attritional This study Merychippus primus Sheep Creek (USA) Middle Miocene m1, m2, (p2, p3), p4, m3 Mesodont Primitive Equinae Catastrophic 22 Parahippus leonensis Thomas Farm (USA) Early Miocene m1, m2, (p2–p4) c , m3 Brachydont Anchitheriinae Attritional (but taphonomic underrepresentation of juvenile remains) 24 Archaeohippus blackbergi Thomas Farm (USA) Early Miocene m1, m2, (p2–p4) c , m3 Brachydont Anchitheriinae Intermale combat 26 Propalaeotherium hassiacum Geiseltal (Germany) Middle Eocene m1, m2, m3, (p2–p4) Brachydont Palaeotheriidae (Equoidea) Not reported 28 Fossil species are listed from younger to older. The mortality type is provided for fossil sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First Radiological Study of a Complete Dental Ontogeny Sequence of an Extinct Equid: Implications for Equidae Life History and Taphonomy

Domingo

Cantero

García-Real

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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The sequence of cheek teeth mineralization, eruption, and replacement of an extinct horse species is here documented with radiological techniques for the first time thanks to the exceptional preservation of Hipparion sp. mandibles from Cerro de los Batallones (Madrid Basin, Spain). The sequence of dental ontogeny in mammals provides valuable insights about life history traits, such as the pace of growth, and about the mode of formation of fossiliferous assemblages. We have determined that the order of permanent cheek teeth mineralization and eruption of hipparionine horses is m1, m2, (p2, p3), p4, m3. Cheek teeth mineralization timing of hipparionine horses coincides with the one observed in modern equids. In turn, there are differences in the eruption timing of the p4 and m3 between horses belonging to the Anchitheriinae and Hipparionini compared to equids of the Equus genus that might be related to the shorter durability of the deciduous tooth dp4 in anchitheriine and hipparionine horses and, more broadly, to an increased durability of equid teeth through their evolutionary history. Based on the dental eruption sequence, hipparionine horses are slow-growing, long-living mammals. The Hipparion sp. assemblage from Batallones-10 conforms to an attritional model, as individuals more vulnerable to natural mortality predominate.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Radiological Study of a Complete Dental Ontogeny Sequence of an Extinct Equid: Implications for Equidae Life History and Taphonomy

Domingo

Cantero

García-Real

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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“…Although it would represent a different kind of prey, Geiseltal fossils of terrestrial non-volant birds such as Palaeotis have been recovered that could have fallen prey to a terrestrial predator even at adult size (Houde & Haubold, 1987). Additionally, juveniles of the larger bird Gastornis may also have been a source of prey (Fischer, 1962; Hellmund, 2013 b ). The only mammalian cursorial carnivore of comparable size from Geiseltal was the creodont Oxyaenoides bicupsidens , but this taxon was only present during MP 11 (Morlo, 1999; Hellmund, 2007; Table 1); competition from other large-bodied land predators would therefore have been low to non-existent at Geiseltal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most notable of these are the relatively common primitive horses Propalaeotherium that include four valid species (the smallest now attributed to Eurohippus ; Franzen, 2006). These early horses mainly differ in size, with some slight variation in tooth morphology (Hellmund, 2013 a ). The quantity of propalaeothere fossils in some locations is remarkably high, especially for site ‘XIV’ from MP 11 (Franzen & Haubold, 1986; Hellmund, 2013 a ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence for prey preference partitioning in the middle Eocene high-diversity crocodylian assemblage of the Geiseltal-Fossillagerstätte, Germany utilizing skull shape analysis

Hastings

Hellmund

2016

Geol. Mag.

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The Geiseltal fossil collection from southern Sachsen-Anhalt Germany contains remarkably well-preserved fossils of middle Eocene age. These include several crocodylian skulls, representing at least four different genera with a fifth genus represented by two mandibular rami. As sites with this many crocodylian genera are unknown in modern ecosystems, it has been hypothesized that these crocodylians may have differences in habit as compared to living crocodylians. In order to test similarities between the Geiseltal crocodylians and extant species, an analysis was conducted using geometric morphometrics to quantify shape in crocodylian skulls of all living species (n = 218) and all well-preserved crocodylian skulls of the Geiseltal fauna (n = 28). A relative warps analysis was used to quantify and compare skull shape, revealing Allognathosuchus and Boverisuchus to be very distinct from each other as well as from Asiatosuchus and Diplocynodon. Overlap in shape alone exists between some Diplocynodon and some Asiatosuchus, but there was significant difference in adult size. When compared with extant crocodylians, three Geiseltal genera occupied distinctly non-modern morphospace in the first two relative warps axes. Comparison of the diets of living crocodylians with similarly shaped skulls was used to reconstruct the prey preferences of the Geiseltal crocodylians, revealing differences in specialization. During the middle Eocene high global temperatures, partitioning of prey preference may have allowed this group to attain its higher than usual diversity, reducing the amount of direct competition.

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The skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat‐Lagerstätte, Germany: insights into the controls on fossil anuran preservation

Falk

Wings

McNamara

2022

Papers in Palaeontology

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The Geiseltal biota is an Eocene lacustrine Konservat-Lagerst€ atte in central Germany. Despite its rich fauna and flora (over 50 000 fossil vertebrates, insects and other invertebrates, plants and trace fossils) the taphonomy of the biota, and of the anurans in particular, is poorly understood. We analysed the skeletal taphonomy of 168 anurans, scoring each specimen for orientation, completeness and articulation. Most are partial skeletons, truncated during preparation. This process introduces measurable artefacts into the taphonomic data, which requires further study. We identified recurring taphonomic states, including disarticulation or loss of abdominal bones, loss of one or more limbs, extensive disarticulation, and extensive loss of elements across the body. Relatively rare states include: loss of distal limb elements only, scattered bones, and isolated, articulated limbs. These data inform a new taphonomic model for the Geiseltal anurans. Comparative analysis of patterns in completeness and articulation in these specimens and anurans from other Cenozoic Lagerst€ atten reveals repeated patterns in preservation in lacustrine-hosted settings, such as proximal to distal trends in completeness, preferential loss of small peripheral bones, disarticulation of abdominal bones, and reorientation of major body regions. Taphonomic controls in lacustrine systems are surface water temperature, lake depth, vegetation, exposure to bottom currents, transport mechanisms, scavenging, decay regime, bone size and location in the skeleton; all ultimately controlled by palaeoclimate, lake physiography and hydrology, and anuran anatomy. A universal approach to quantitative analysis of skeletal taphonomy metrics will enable comparative testing of the relationship between preservation and palaeoenvironment for diverse fossil vertebrates.

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Odontological and osteological investigations on propalaeotheriids (Mammalia, Equidae) from the Eocene Geiseltal Fossillagerstätte (Central Germany) - a full range of extraordinary phenomena

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

First Radiological Study of a Complete Dental Ontogeny Sequence of an Extinct Equid: Implications for Equidae Life History and Taphonomy

First Radiological Study of a Complete Dental Ontogeny Sequence of an Extinct Equid: Implications for Equidae Life History and Taphonomy

Evidence for prey preference partitioning in the middle Eocene high-diversity crocodylian assemblage of the Geiseltal-Fossillagerstätte, Germany utilizing skull shape analysis

The skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat‐Lagerstätte, Germany: insights into the controls on fossil anuran preservation

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